The diversified healthcare company on Tuesday said it earned $4.33 billion, or $1.51 per share, in the second quarter. That compared with $3.83 billion, or $1.33 per share, in the year-earlier period, when the company took charges for litigation and an acquisition.

Excluding special items, J&J earned $1.66 per share. Analysts, on average, were expecting $1.55 per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.